Abstract
After more than half a century of intensive archaeological research the early Middle Formative (or Middle Preclassic) period (1000-600 B.C.) continues to be one of the most enigmatic eras in the study of Lowland Maya prehistory. While several factors contribte to this situation, the primary cause for this obscurity lies in the fact that few sites have produced either contextual or stratigraphic evidence of occupation during this phase (Rice 1976; Andrews 1988). Concsequently, any new site with evidence of Middle Formative occupation can contribute substantially to our limited knowledge of this pioneering stage of the lowland Maya. This paper introduces one such site, Cahal Pech, where recent investigations have uncovered a stratigraphic sequence that tentatively spans the early Middle Formative to the Late Classic period. It provides a preliminary description, of the site's early Middle Formative configuration and briefly discusses its possible regional affiliation.
Keywords: Maya
How to Cite:
Awe, J., Bill, C., Campbell, M. & Cheetham, D., (1990) “Early Middle Formative Occupation in the Central Maya Lowlands: Recent Evidence from Cahal Pech, Belize”, Papers from the Institute of Archaeology 1, 1-5. doi: https://doi.org/10.5334/pia.358
Downloads:
Download PDF
View PDF